Genesis 32-33 – Pastor Brian

Forgiveness is such a powerful noun. The act of setting someone free from the chains of regretfulness.

I can think of several situations in life, especially through growing up where I stressed over telling someone that I had damaged a piece of their property or even worse, lied to them or cheated. Even more recently I held on to the pain of accidentally doing something that I had to say sorry for and cringed at the thought of their response. “I am sorry” is so hard to say yet the understanding that you are forgiven has such a powerful effect over the situation. The opposite is so true when someone feels that they can not forgive and move on. The relationship strain and sadness is sometimes unbearable.

Jacob finds himself in a similar situation stressing over reuniting with a bother that he had scammed earlier in life. Esau had every right to take his frustrations out on Jacob. Going back to Genesis 27:41 we see that Esau had even threatened to kill his brother upon the death of his father so Jacob had every right to prepare for the worse.

Yet instead of receiving the hand of vengeance Jacob receives the unexpected hand of forgiveness. When least expected receiving forgiveness removes so many chains of regret. It gives us freedom that we never thought we would have again.

That is what is so amazing about the ultimate forgiveness that Jesus extended to each one of us. John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The power of the cross allows us to know that our sins removed as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12